Commentary: Fostering community key to solving Maine youth mental health crisis

Data recently released by the Maine Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows an alarming picture of the mental health and well-being of our young people.of 2021 Maine Comprehensive Youth Health Survey shows that mental health problems among young people in Maine have become more acute over the past two years.

When asked, “Do you agree or disagree with what you feel is important to other people in your community?” 54.8% of middle school students said 59.4% decreased from Among high school students, only 51.5%. Down from 56.4% in 2019. He was 29.6% of junior high school students who reported that they “felt very sad and hopeless almost every day for more than two consecutive weeks and quit their usual activities.” , up from 24.8% in 2019. A significant drop from 65.8% in 2017 and 50.7% in 2019, this troubling trend needs to be reversed.

Our nation’s top health leaders are urging action in the face of a national youth mental health crisis. announced the declaration of a National Emergency in Child and Adolescent Mental Health, followed by the U.S. Surgeon General’s Recommendations on Protecting Adolescent Mental Health.

Citing these statements and the body of data highlighting the pandemic’s enormous toll on youth mental health, agencies of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services are urging states, tribes, and jurisdictions to take action to strengthen their efforts. We have issued a joint letter encouraging them to prioritize and make the most of them. Children’s mental health and well-being. Across all organizations, the call to action is clear and consistent, promoting youth resilience at the family, school and community levels.

We need to prioritize prevention policies and programs to ensure the resilience of young people, families and communities. A coordinated multi-sectoral approach is needed to increase community resilience. Strategies developed by communities to promote resilience to health and social challenges are intertwined with economic development to support prosperous and prosperous communities. Our future workforce depends on it.

We must commit to systems and policies that create a supportive environment in which young people can grow and feel important. By creating safe spaces and working to connect, everyone in every community can have a positive impact on young people.

Making a positive impact also requires addressing complex systemic challenges. We need to invest not just money but time, energy and care to ensure that all young people in Maine understand what is important to their communities. We must do so with the young people involved in design. It’s up to us to make sure we can provide support instead of “making our kids more resilient.” Governments, schools, businesses and organizations must commit to supporting systems and policies that create an environment in which young people can thrive.

Needs repair and restoration. But when it comes to the pandemic’s toll on youth mental health, its recovery must include prevention. Endlessly deal with fallout and maintain repair cycles.

Maine Resilience Building Network, along with Maine CDC and Public Health Partners, “Maine Youth Thriving” guide for community action. This guide promotes community-driven solutions to address protective factors and ensure a community environment that supports positive youth development and prosperity. We look forward to working with communities to promote locally developed solutions and help young people grow and feel they matter. is in let’s take

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